MORE THAN 50 BUILDINGS AND SOUNDSTAGES SPRAWL ACROSS THE 18 HECTARES OF THE SONY PICTURES LOT. That's a lot of windowless oblongs, and even more distance between them. If you need to get from, say, the Jimmy Stewart Building to Stage 15, golf carts and Sprinter vans are the customary mode – even on sunny days. On a particular Saturday in February, while an atmospheric river settled over Los Angeles, those vehicles were a necessity. The downpour was bad luck for the dozens of journalists there that day, but it was also a touch allegorical. After what felt like years of anticipation, Apple was about to take us behind the scenes of a show it was making for its still mysterious, still unnamed subscription streaming service. We were going to find out if Apple, maker of so many devices that have redefined the way we consume content, could finally make content – good content – of its own.
AFTER THE JOURNALISTS HANDED THEIR PHONES TO APPLE STAFFERS to be taped up with camera-blocking stickers, the vans shuttled the group to Stage 15. Dryness maintained, we walked into the control room of NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Centre circa 1969.
Mission Control, as it’s more commonly known, was painstakingly refurbished by NASA in its original Houston location and reopened to the public earlier this year. The Hollywood version in front of us, taking up almost 750 square metres of Stage 15, is its utter replica, from the soft packs of Kools strewn on long tiers of desks to the million-buttoned BOOSTER consoles that tracked the Saturn V rockets powering the Apollo spacecraft into orbit. Rotary phones. Horn-rimmed glasses. Even the ceiling tiles have been custom-made to match the ones in Houston.
Denne historien er fra December 2019-utgaven av GQ South Africa.
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Denne historien er fra December 2019-utgaven av GQ South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
I am Legend
For 40 years, Toyota has produced an iconic 4x4. In 2024 it's received a subtle, rejuvenating facelift - and more. The Land Cruiser 76 is made for Africa.
Alternative Investments
We take a look at how alternative investments offer a diverse range of opportunities beyond the traditional, with a particular focus on venture capital
THE HEART OF A CHAMPION
AYABONGA KHAKA IS A RIGHT-ARM medium bowler for South Africa's national cricket team, and earned a national contract with Cricket South Africa in 2018.
THE DEFENDER OF HOUSE
From his debut album Golden Power to the recent hit \"Yes God\", Oscar Mbo is still the king of deep house music. Apart from consistently energising groovists with his beats, he also stands out as the country's most stylish DJ - and a savvy businessman
GOLDEN BOY
With top-charting hits such as \"Adiwele\", \"Sete\" and \"Imithandazo\", Young Stunna is the face of amapiano, and a rising icon. In a remarkably short time, he's carved out his path in the music industry and stands poised to conquer the world
Fierce, Fearless and Flourishing
THESE FIVE REMARKABLE WOMEN LEADING WITH COURAGE, DETERMINATION, AND LIMITLESS AMBITION ARE REDEFINING SUCCESS IN THEIR OWN TERMS
DAMIAN WILLEMSE HUMBLE STAR OF SA RUGBY
He's renowned for his skill and versatility - but the legacy of Damian Willemse is built on inspiring others, both on and off the field
The Visionary Curator: Jana Terblanche's Journey in the Art World
Poetic and political this ambitious yet principled art curator challenges the traditional and champions African voices
Non-invasive Cosmetic Treatments Guide
From advanced laser therapies to cutting-edge injectables, these innovative procedures offer effective solutions for smoothing wrinkles, enhancing skin tone, and contouring the body
Lelowhatsgood The Maverick DJ Disrupting Africa's Cultural Landscape
“Demon’s Kiss” put him on the map but there’s more to this Renaissance man than just hit singles.